Sierra Club blasts plan to improve fracking

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Sierra Club is harshly criticizing a new partnership that aims to create tough new standards for hydraulic fracturing.

The criticism came Thursday, a day after two of the nation's biggest oil and gas companies made peace with some national and regional environmental groups, agreeing to go through an independent review of their shale oil and gas drilling operations in the Northeast.

The new Pittsburgh-based Center for Sustainable Shale Development was created to improve standards for fracking.

But Sierra Club spokeswoman Deb Nardone says the new plan is "akin to slapping a Band-Aid on a gaping wound."

A center spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

But the Environmental Defense Fund says the new plan is meant to complement strong regulations, not replacement them.